Shipping Chameleons (and other Reps)

[Kevy Baby]

This has always been a thorny topic for me. Maybe I am spoiled to live in a highly populated area with access to a great rep store (La Habra Pets in La Habra, CA) and near a couple of shows per year (usually Fairplex in Pomona).

But I have always been uncomfortable with the notion of shipping Reps, particularly Chams. I had a discussion on this matter with a breeder at a show (who I was buying a Cham from) and he assured me that the reps are okay with the transport.

But I know the realities of shipping: transport planes are typically not temp controlled (though they are pressurized), so it can get darn cold in there; I don't care what you put on the box, it WILL get jostled; even though the person I spoke to at the show assured me that he won't ship during a heatwave or to Minnesota in the dead of winter (and I believe him - he was a straight shooter), there are still going to be temperature extremes.

I know that for many, shipping the Rep is the only way they can enjoy the hobby. Shipping is a necessary evil (I am sure anyone reading this board would pick up their Rep if they could!). But I have always been a little concerned about the stress that shipping puts on the poor little guys (and girls).

Your thoughts?

P.S. I am not being critical of senders or recipients - like I said above: I know it is a necessary evil.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I too was very worried about shipping my faly. I had bred in the past myself and I had never shipped any of my chams. I sold them all at the local H-town show. I bought most of my chams there also. But personally the breeder i got mine from (heroic chams) waited til weather was perfect to ship. I was actually amazed at how well the cham took the trip. He was asleep until i woke him up when i opened the sack he was in. Chuck really packed him up well. I think if the person knows what they are doing and drops them off at the last minute so they dont sit around for long then its fine.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Being able to ship animals is crucial and not at all evil.
Remember they are diurnal.
Have you ever tried to wake one up in the middle of the night?
Jostling will hardly effect them and most of us pack pretty tightly and give the animal something to cling to while it sleeps.
Boxes are insulated, I have double insulated if weather requires. I have tested boxes with heat packs in the freezer over night with a probe thermometer that records highest and lowest temps.
I am confident that overnight shipping causes very little stress.
Stress happens the next morning when the animal is unpacked and in a new place. This same stress happens when you pick up a new animal.

-Brad

 

[Lancecham]

Being able to ship animals is crucial and not at all evil.
Remember they are diurnal.
Have you ever tried to wake one up in the middle of the night?
Jostling will hardly effect them and most of us pack pretty tightly and give the animal something to cling to while it sleeps.
Boxes are insulated, I have double insulated if weather requires. I have tested boxes with heat packs in the freezer over night with a probe thermometer that records highest and lowest temps.
I am confident that overnight shipping causes very little stress.
Stress happens the next morning when the animal is unpacked and in a new place. This same stress happens when you pick up a new animal.

-Brad

Well said Brad...

 

[Julirs]

I have shipped now over a hundred animals without a single hitch. They come out of the box ready to eat and drink. Insulated boxes and heat and cold packs make this pretty easy these days.

 

[hallenhe]

I have never shipped one out myself, and am somewhat scared of the prospect; that being said, none of the kinds I want are locally available, and I have had five shipped in to me to date, and all have arrived whole and healthy. As you said, responsible shippers generally won't ship if the weather doesn't fall within some reasonable parameters, and temperatures in the box can be moderated with a heat pack or cold pack if necessary. When the time comes for me to move, I think boarding the animals locally, moving and getting settled myself, then having them shipped would be rather less stressful on everybody involved than driving a car full of lizards and newts two or three days across country.

 

[Carlton]

Compared to the stress of chams packed (possibly air or truck shipped anyway), transported, put on view at herp expos, packed again, transported to a new home, shipping responsibly isn't always the poorer option.